Coil winding machine



May 1, 1962 H. w. MOORE COIL WINDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.17, 1957 INVENTOR. ##EE/ l/l/ M0025 Filed Oct. 17, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. H43? Y W. M 0025 BY 5 1% w JIE. 3

H/S HTTOEA/EKS" V May 1, 1962 H. w. MOORE COIL WINDING MACHINE 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 17 1957 INVENTOR. HflEEV M. M0056 UnitedStates Patent ()fl ice 3,032,073 COEL WINDING MACHINE Harry W. Moore,5051 Kittridge Road, Dayton, Ohio Filed Oct. 17, 1957, Ser. No. 690,83814 Claims. (Cl. 140-922) This invention relates to a coil windingmachine for winding coils upon a mandrel element and moreparticularly toan improved mandrel assembly for recelvmg coils as they are Wound andfor subsequently discharging the coils onto an accumulator, although theinvention is not necessarily so limited.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved coil windingmachine wherein coils wound by a flier onto a mandrel assembly areretained by the mandrel assembly and advanced progressively to anaccumulator onto which the coils are discharged.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved mandrelassembly including a pair of juxtaposed conveyors carrying a pluralityof coil receiving elements which co-operate in pairs to provide coilreceiving forms, the construction and arrangement being such that thecoil receiving forms are advanced by said conveyors first into positionto receive a coil and then into position to discharge the completedcoil.

A further object of this invention is to provide drive means for theaforesaid mandrel assembly and means for synchronizing the operation ofsaid drive means with the operation of the coil winding mechanism.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an mprovedmechanism for wrapping a tape about the coils formed upon the mandrelassembly as these coils are advanced from the point of formation to thepoint of discharge.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an accumulatorfor receiving coils discharged by the mandrel assembly, whichaccumulator functions to accumulate a given number of coils and then torelease these coils for removal from the coil winding machine.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide, in a coilwinding machine, an improved flier assembly for winding the coils upon amandrel receiver and improved means for layering the coils onto thereceiver.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, thecombination thereof, the method of manufacture and the mode ofoperation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the coil windingmachine of this invention with some parts broken away and othersillustrated in sectional detail to reveal the interior constructionthereof.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the coil windingmachine of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 ofFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a drivemechanism for the mandrel assembly of the coil winding machine of FIGURE1 with portions broken away.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of an assembly for placinga strip of adhesive tape about the coils formed by the coil windingmachine of FIG- URE 1.

FiGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view drawn to reduced scale showing theassembly of FIGURE 5 in an operative position.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a coil wound by the coilwinding machine of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown in FIGURE 1a conventional drive assembly 10 for operating the coil winding machine.The drive assembly 10 which includes an electric motor or the like, notshown, for imparting rotation to a shaft 12 also includes conventionalclutch and brake mechanisms for stopping and starting the rotation ofthe shaft 12 at predetermined intervals, as will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter. The drive assembly Ill derives support from a bed orplatform 114, but is broken away therefrom in the drawings forconvenience.

Fixedly secured to shaft 12 by suitable bolts 14 is a tubular shaft 16co-axial with the axis of rotation of the shaft 12. The shaft 16 ispartitioned by a wall 18 extending normal to the geometric axis thereof.Telescoped on the tubular shaft 16 and splined thereto by means of ribs20 is a second tubular shaft 22. The arrangement is such that the shaft22 rotates with the shaft 16 but is slidable axially thereon. AnL-shaped flier element 24 is fixedly secured to the shaft 22 andcounterbalanced for rotation by a suitable weight 26. Wire, illustratedat 28, is supplied to the flier 24 as follows.

Mounted within shaft 16 on one side of the partition 18 therein, is acylindrical body 30 recessed to receive a pulley 32. Body 36 is splinedto shaft 16 with a rib 34.

so as to rotate therewith. Wire 28 is fed to the pulley 32 throughcentral borings provided in the shaft 12 and the cylindrical body 30.The shaft 16 and the shaft 22 telescoped thereon are provided withaligned apertures 36 and 3S permitting the wire 28 to pass from pulley32 to a pulley 46 mounted for rotation on the flier 24. The aperture 38is large enough to permit axial movement of the shaft 22 withoutinterference with the wire 28. From the pulley 46 wire 28 passes toconventionally arranged pulleys 42 and 48 journalled in a supportingelement 44 fixedly attached to the flier 24 by means of an arm 46. Thewire leaving pulley 48 is wound onto a mandrel assembly as will bedescribed in greater detail in the following. The wire is tensioned atits source by conventional means not shown.

The mandrel assembly upon which the coils are wound by the flier 24 issupported as follows. Journalled for rotation upon bearings 56a and 5%within the outer end of shaft 16 is a shaft 52 for supporting themandrel assembly. Between the bearings 50a and 5% are concentriccylindrical sleeves 60 and 62 which maintain these bearings in fixedspaced relation. A portion 53 of the shaft 52 is enlarged and journalledwithin a bearing support member 54 fixedly secured to the shaft 16 bysuitable bolts 56. The end of the shaft 52 projecting into the shaft 16is threaded to receive a nut 58. The nut 58 is tightened upon a lockwasher 59, against bearing 50a so that bearings Stla and Sill) alongwith the sleeves 6t and 62 are compressed in a tight sandwich againstthe shoulder formed by the enlarged portion 53 of the shaft 52. Bearingmember 54 compresses this: sandwich between itself and a shoulder 64formed within the tubular shaft 16.

This bearing assembly supports the shaft 52 for independent rotationrelative to the flier 24 and also supports the shaft so that the ratherlarge weight of the mandrel assembly can be supported by the end of theshaft 52 projecting outside the tubular shaft 16.

Shaft 52 terminates in an enlarged disc portion 66 to which is secured abody member 68 which supports the mandrel assembly. Body member 68 isoriented in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the flier 24 andis of such a dimension that the flier may rotate thereabout.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 2, body member 68 is provided with adovetail slot 79 which slidably receives like housings 72a and 72bsupporting conveyor assemblies designated by the reference numerals 74and 76. These housings 72, which are mounted one above the other,threadedly engage a shaft 73 journalled within body.

Patented May 1, 1962.

member 68. Shaft 73 is oppositely threaded for the housings 72a and 72bso that the vertical separation between these housing may be adjusted bymanual rotation of this shaft.

Each housing 72 includes a pair of side rails 78 which form the sides ofthe conveyor assemblies 74 and 76. Within each housing 72 is ahorizontal shaft 80 supporting, as best seen in FIGURE 3, a sprocket 82.As illustrated in FIGURE 1, a similar shaft 84 supports a similarsprocket, not shown, on the outwardly projecting ends of the side rails78. The shafts 84 are journalled in journals 85 adjustably secured tothe side rails '78 by screws 87. The sprockets co-operate to supportconveyor chains illustrated in FIGURE 3. These chains, which resembleordinary bicycle chains, comprise a series of rollers 86 supported inspaced relation by links 89. The journals 85 are adjustable to enableproper tensioning of these conveyor chains. These chains support coilreceiving elements best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 5. Each coilreceiving element comprises an L-shaped member 88 having a planar member92 pivotally secured thereto so as to form a U-shaped element. Asillustrated in FIG- URE 3, each member 88 is provided with spacedflanges 93 at the base thereof straddling the supporting conveyor chain.These flanges are fixedly joined to the links 89 of the chain betweeneach pair of rollers 86. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the U-shaped coilreceiving elements are carried in tightly spaced relation by theconveyor chains.

As will be described hereinafter, the conveyor chains are driven insynchronism by a suitable driving assembly and are so arranged that thecoil receiving elements on the two chains are aligned in verticallyspaced relation. Thus, coil receiving elements on the upper portion ofthe upper conveyor 74 are aligned vertically with the coil receivingelements on the lower portion of the lower con veyor 76 and co-operatetherewith to provide coil receiving channels on the upper and lowersides of the conveyor assemblies. The coils are wound into these alignedchannels and encircle both conveyors as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3.Successively wound coils designated 208a, 208b, 208e, 208d, and 2082 areillustrated.

Channels for receiving the coils at the sides of the conveyor assembliesas the coils are wound are provided as follows. Adjustably secured tothe sides of the conveyor housings 72 by means of screws 94 are guidebrackets 96, there being one guide bracket on each side of each housing72. As will be described subsequently, these brackets 96 may be movedvertically one toward the other and one away from the other by virtue oftheir slidable connection with the housings 72. Portions 98 of thesebrackets 96 extend parallel to the side rails 78. Each bracket 96 alsoincludes a laterally outwardly projecting flange portion 100 whichfunctions as a side rail for a coil receiving channel.

Co-operating with these flanges 100 and in spaced relation thereto areflange members 102 reciprocally positioned by means of air cylinders 104as follows. The flange members 102 are secured to vertical brackets 106by means of screws 108 and slide plates 109. The screws 108 penetratevertical slots 111 within the brackets 106 to provide for verticaladjustment of the flange members 102. The brackets 106 are mounted attheir ends for sliding horizontal movement on parallel rods 110. Theserods 110 are anchored in U-shaped support members 112 which in turn aresecured to the base platform 114 by suitable arms 116. As bestillustrated in FIGURE 3, pairs of flange members 102 are thus supportedon each side of the aligned conveyor assemblies 74 and 76. The brackets106 are each actuated horizontally by the plunger 117 of an associatedair cylinder 104, there being one air cylinder on each side of thealigned conveyors supported by the support members 112.

The construction is such that the flange members 102 maybe actuatedinwardly into abutment with the guide brackets 96 to provide a channelfor receiving a coil as it is wound and they may be actuated away fromthe guide brackets 96 to enable the coil to be moved out of and awayfrom the plane in which it is wound.

Coils are Wound into the channel thus formed in the mandrel assembly byrotating the flier 24 relative to the mandrel assembly. As the flier 24rotates, a mechanism is used to layer the coil within the coil receivingchannel. With reference to FIGURE 1, this mechanism includes a hydraulicpiston 260 engaging a yoke member 262, which is pivotally mounted to abracket 266 fixedly secured to the housing for the drive mechanism 10.The yoke 262 which is bifurcated engages the opposite sides of acylindrical member 270 rotatably secured to the tubular shaft 22 bymeans of a bearing 272, the latter being secured by snap rings 274. Theconstruction of this layering assembly is such that the cylindricalmember 270 is free to rotate on the shaft 22 but is restrained fromaxial movement thereon.

The operation of this layering mechanism is as follows. As the flier 24is rotated by the drive assembly 10, the hydraulic piston 260 isrepeatedly actuated by a hydraulic supply, not shown, to reciprocate theyoke 262. The yoke 262 in turn reciprocates the cylindrical member 270and in turn the tubular shaft 22. The tubular shaft 22 impartsreciprocatory movement to the flier 24 so as to layer the coils withinthe coil receiving elements as the flier 24 rotates. It is to beunderstood that the relative axial and rotary movements of the flier 24will be determined largely by the diameter of the wire which is to belayered within the coil receiving channel and the width of the coilreceiving channel.

The completed coils are carried on the conveyors out of the plane inwhich they are wound by the following mechanism. Referring to FIGURE 1,an actuator shaft 118 is journalled for rotary motion in a bracket 120secured to the body member 68. T he actuator shaft 118 passes verticallythrough each of the housings 72a and 72b. Within each of the housings 72a worm 122 is fixedly attached to the actuator shaft. The Worms 122 inthe housings 72 are threaded oppositely. These worms 122 each engage agear 124 splined to the shaft journalled within the associated housing72. Through rotary motion of the worms 122, and the sprockets 82thereby, the conveyor chains are caused to rotate.

The shaft 118 is rotated by the mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 4. Thismechanism which is housed in a housing 300 under the platform 114includes a rack 302 which is actuated reciprocally by an air cylinder304. The rack 302 engages a gear 306 which is connected through a shaft307 to a gear 308 which drives a rack 310 reciprocally within thehousing in a direction normal to the direction of movement of rack 302.The rack 310 is stabilized by rollers 312 and the rack 302 is stabilizedby a roller 314. The rack 310 reciprocates between housings 315 attachedto housing 300 rotating a pinion 316 which is splined to a tubular shaft318. The aperture within the tubular shaft 318 has a hexagonalcross-section. Slidably mounted within the shaft 318 is a hexagonalshaft 320 terminating in an adapter portion 322 provided with a slot324. The shaft 320 is adapted to be actuated vertically by an aircylinder 326. Upon vertical upward actuation of the shaft 320, theadapter portion 322 is carried into engagement with a flattened endportion 328 of the shaft 118.

The operation of this mechanism is as follows. Initially when it isdesired to advance the conveyors 74 and 76 the air cylinder 326 isenergized. This moves the shaft 320 upwardly to bring the adapterportion thereof into engagement with the shaft 118. Subsequently, aircylinder 304 is energized to cause rotation of the shaft 118. Thisadvances the conveyors a predetermined distance. The air cylinder 304 isthen deenergized stopping rotation of the conveyors and subsequently theair cylinder 326 is energized to retract the shaft 320. With the shaft320 retracted, the flier 24 is free to rotate about the body member 68.After the shaft 325) is retracted, air cylinder 3%4 is reversed to resetthe conveyor drive mechanism. Suitable stops, not shown, limit themovement of air cylinder 304 such that the advancement of the conveyorchains may be accurately reproduced.

Due to the opposite threading of the worms 122, the conveyors advancesuch that the upper surface of the upper conveyor moves in the samedirection as the lower surface of the lower conveyor. With reference toFIG- URE 1, this enables the coils formed upon the conveyors to beadvanced to the right toward the outwardly projecting rounded ends ofthe conveyors.

Before it is possible to move the coils to the right, as viewed inFIGURE 1, after their formation it is first necessary to retract theflange members 102 and to free the coils from compressive engagementwith the guide brackets 96. Air cylinder 104 is used to retract theflange members 1112. The following mechanism relieves the compressiveengagement between the coils and the guide brackets 8'6. Referring toFIGURE 1, each of the guide brackets 96 is provided on its left handmargin with a rack engaging a gear 152 mounted upon a horizontal shaft154. The gear 152 threadedly engages a worm 156, there being two gears152 and one worm in each of the housings 72a and 72]), with the worms156 in these two housings threaded oppositely. These worms 156 aresplined to a shaft 158, which rises vertically from the bracket 129 ofthe body member 68 parallel to the shaft 118. The shaft 158 terminatesin a flattened end portion 162 similar to the end portion 328 of theshaft 118.

The shaft 158 is rotated by the following mechanism. Referring to FIGURE4, this mechanism includes an air cylinder 164 adapted to actuate a rack166 reciprocally within the housing 3%. The rack 166, stabilized byrollers 168, engages and rotates a pinion 1'70 splined to a tubularshaft 172. The shaft 172 is provided with a hexagonal aperture slidablyreceiving a hexagonal shaft 174. The shaft 174 is reciprocatedvertically by an air cylinder 176. The shaft 174 terminates in anadapter portion 173 provided with a slot 13 analogous to the adapterportion 322 of the shaft 320.

The mechanism operates as follows. Upon energizetion of the air cylinder176, the shaft 174- carrying the adapter portion 178 is actuatedvertically upwardly to bring the adapter portion 178 into engagementwith the flattened end portion 162 of the shaft 1153. Upon subsequentenergization of the air cylinder 164, the rack 166 is driven so as torotate the shaft 174, causing rotation of the shaft 158. Upon rotationof the shaft 158, the guide brackets 96 are driven one toward the other.As is most apparent in FIGURE 3, this movement of the guide brackets 96will release the coils formed thereon from compressive engagementtherewith. This enables the coils to be moved by the mechanism describedhereinbefore. When the coils have been advanced the predetermineddistance, the air cylinder 164 is retracted. This replaces the guidebrackets 96 to their original position. Subsequently, the air cylinder176 is energized to retract the shaft 174. Clearly, the advancement ofthe conveyors and the adjustment of the distance between the guidebrackets 96 must be accomplished when the flier 24 is stopped.

After the conveyors have moved the completed coils to the right asviewed in FIGURE 1, each of these coils is wrapped with a tape by thefollowing mechanism. Referring to FIGURE 5, a tape 1% is supplied by areel 192. The tape 1% passes through a series of three pinching rollers194, 1% and 198. The roller 1% is a driven roller which serves to drawthe tape 19% from the reel advancing it under a roller 2% mounted withina housing 2114 through a slotted guide element 206 to a positionoverlying the coil which is to receive the tape. This coil is designatedby the reference numeral 208C.

With the tape 1% in this position, an air cylinder 210 is energized. Theair cylinder 21f! reciprocally moves a bracket 212. The bracket 212carries a knife member 218 slidably mounted in a guide 214 secured to asupporting frame 216. Upon actuation of the air cylinder 21th, the knifeis moved downwardly as viewed in FIG- URE 5, to sever the length 1900 ofthe tape overlying the coil 2118c. This operation is performed in itsentirety during the time the flier is winding a new coil.

The bracket 212 also carries a journal member 220 supporting a shaft222. Mounted on the shaft 222 are a pair of jaw members 22 -1 and 226each provided with a tapered tooth 228. Spring means 227 bias the teeth22% into compressive engagement. Upon actuation of the air cylinder 210,the jaw members 224 and 226 are urged downwardly as viewed in FIGURE 5through the slotted guide element 2% whereupon they advance upon thestrip of tape 1911a, which is simultaneously being severed. As the jawmembers 224 and 226 strike the coil 21180 which is to receive the tape1911a the teeth 228 carried thereby cam against the coil to spreadapart, then pass around the coil, then clamp together again to wrap thetape 19% about the coil. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the side rail 78behind the portion of the coil 2118c which is to be taped is notched at22? to provide clearance for the jaw teeth 228 behind the coil. Uponsubsequent retraction of the air cylinder 210, the teeth 228 cam backover the coil and withdraw from the coil. This completes the tapingoperation. FIGURE 6 illustrates the teeth 228 in the position in whichthey are cammed over the coil 2118c. FIGURE 7 illustrates a completedand taped coil 298, with strands which interconnect the coils cut off.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the completed coils are discharged from theconveyors as follows. As the conveyors are advanced progressively tocarry the coils thereon to the right end as viewed in FIGURE 1, the U-shaped coil receiving elements carrying the coils are caused to roundthe end portions of the conveyors. As they round these end portions, thecoil receiving elements carried by the separate conveyors approach oneanother. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the planar members 12 of the coilreceiving elements of the lower conveyor 74 pivot away under theinfluence of gravity from the associated L-shaped members 88 as thesecoil receiving elements round the end of the conveyor. This enables thecompleted coils to slip out of the coil receiving elements and drop ontoan accumulator labeled 160.

The accumulator has a downwardly descending sloped portion 161 leadingto a second downwardly descending sloped portion 163 of lesser slope.The completed coils slide downwardly on the accumulator onto the portion163 and there are stopped by a flange 246 co-operating with a verticalshaft 242. A coil 21132 is illustrated substantially at the end of theaccumulator. It is to be understood, of course, that all coils arejoined by a connecting strand, not shown, due to the fact that the coilsare wound from a single interrupted strand. Interconnected coils whichwould ordinarily be found between the coils 208d and Ztlde in FIGURE 1have been eliminated from the drawing to avoid confusion of detail. Theshaft 242, which is seated in a hollow portion 244 of the accumulator160, is mounted for vertical reciprocal motion in the platform 114 andis adapted to be driven vertically by an air cylinder, not shown.

When through the successive winding of a number of coils, several coilshave been accumulated on the accumulator 161 and it is desired to removethese coils from the accumulator, a second shaft 246 mounted forvertical reciprocal motion in the platform 1.14 is actuated verticallyupwardly by an air cylinder not shown. The shaft 246 rises upwardly inspaced relation to the shaft 242 to engage a hollow portion 248 of theaccumulator the arrangement being such that the shafts 242 and 245engage the accumulator in spaced relation on opposite ends of the slopedportion 163 of the accumulator. The accumulated coils are thereforesituated between the shafts 246 and 242.

With the shaft 246 elevated, the air cylinder governing the operation ofthe shaft 242 is actuated to retract the shaft 242. This enables thecoils accumulated on the accumulator 169 to be out free and removedeither manually or automatically by apparatus not shown. When thesecoils have been removed, the shaft 242 is returned to its position inengagement with the accumulator 160 and the shaft 246 is withdrawn toenable the accumulation of additional coils on the portion 163 of theaccumulator 160.

It is to be noted that in the construction of this coil winding machine,the mandrel assembly comprising the conveyors 74 and 76 is rotatablymounted relative to the flier 24. The shafts 242 and 246 supporting theaccumulator 160 co-operate to prevent rotation of the mandrel assembly.To this end the accumulator 164) is fixedly attached to the side members78 of the upper conveyor '74.

For purposes of clarity of description, the complete operating cycle ofthe coil winding machine is reviewed in the following. Referring toFIGURE 1, the coil winding machine is illustrated at the termination ofthe winding of coil 2M0. In winding coil 2tl8a, the air cylinder 164 wasactuated to bring the flange members 102 into engagement with the guidebrackets 96. Then the flier 24 was rotated by the drive mechanism whilesimultaneously the hydraulic piston 269 was actuated reciprocally tolayer the coil within the coil receiving channel. At some time duringthe winding of coil 208a, drive wheel 196 associated with the tapedispensing mechanism was actuated to position a piece of tape 130a overthe previously wound coil 2080. Following this, air cylinder 210 wasactuated to Wrap the strip of tape 196a about the coil 298a and thenretracted to complete the taping operation. After a predetermined numberof turns were wound in the coil 208a the flier was stopped in theposition illustrated in FIGURE 1.

With stoppage of the flier after coil 268a is wound, the hydrauliccylinder 266 is actuated to shift the flier 24 to the extreme left asviewed in FIGURE 1. Next air cylinder 164 is actuated to retract theflange members 102 from the guide brackets 96 so as to free the woundcoil 208 for axial movement. Simultaneously, air cylinders 176 and 326are actuated to elevate the shafts 174 and 320 into engagement with theshafts 118 and 158 of the mandrel assembly in readiness for advancementof the conveyor assemblies. Following this, air cylinder 164 is firstenergized to displace the guide brackets 96 one toward the other to freethe coil 208a for axial movement, then air cylinder 304 is energized todrive the conveyor assemblies a predetermined distance. As illustratedin FIGURE 1, this predetermined distance corresponds conveniently to thecenter to center separation between two alternate U-shaped coilreceiving elements on the conveyors, although it could as well be equalto the center to center distance between adjacent coil receivingelements.

As the conveyors advance the predetermined distance, coil 208d which isillustrated in FIGURE 1 at the end portion of the conveyors drops fromthe conveyors onto the accumulator 160 to the portion 163 thereof. Withthe conveyors advanced the predetermined distance, air cylinder 304 ismaintained in the energized position while air cylinder 164 is actuatedin the reverse direction to restore the guide brackets 96 to theiroriginal position. Then air cylinders 176 and 326 are actuated toretract the shafts 174 and 320. Finally air cylinder 304 is retracted toits original position.

With subsequent actuation of air cylinder 104 to position the flangemembers 102 into abutment with the guide brackets 96, the coil windingmachine is in position for the winding of a new coil. Since the flier 24is being maintained in an extreme left position, as viewed in FIG- URE1, by the hydraulic piston 260, the start of the new coil in the propercoil receiving channel is insured.

After any desired number of coils have been wound and accumulated on theportion 163 of the accumulator 160, the shaft 242 associated therewithis actuated downwardly and the shaft 246 also associated therewith isactuated upwardly to free the accumulated coils for manual or automaticremoval from the accumulator 160. Clearly, in order to remove the coilsthus accumulated it will be necessary to sever the connecting strandbetween the last accumulated coil which is to be removed and the coilsyet remaining on the conveyor assembly.

As was noted hereinbefore, the housings 72 associated with the conveyors74 and 76 are adjustably secured to the body member 68 such that theseparation therebetween may be adjusted by rotation of the shaft 73which threadedly engages the housings 72. By this means, some variationin the size of the coils wound by the coil winding machine may beobtained. Also, it is ap parent that a wide variation in the number ofturns per coil is possible with the present apparatus. However, theshape of the coil which is wound by the present coil winding machineremains substantially constant and is not subject to variation. It isnonetheless deemed within the scope of this invention to constructmodified coil winding machines capable of winding coils of diflerentshapes, but utilizing the dual conveyor structure and associatedmechanisms of the present coil winding machine. Thus, the coil windingmachine of this invention is not limited to the production of coilshaving the shape illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generallystated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects setforth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a coil winding machine including a rotatable flier for windingcoils and a receiving mandrel upon which the coils are wound, theimprovement wherein said mandrel comprises a pair of endless conveyorsarranged in parallel relation, a plurality of coil receiving elementscarried by said conveyors, pairs of coil receiving elements, one carriedby each conveyor, co-operating to provide a coil receiving channel for asingle coil, and means for driving said conveyors so as to presentsuccessive pairs of coil receiving elements to said flier.

2. In a coil winding machine of the type having a mandrel assembly forreceiving a coil, a supply assembly for delivering wire for winding intoa coil on the mandrel assembly and means for rotating one of saidassemblies relative to the other to wind a coil in a plane normal to theaxis of relative rotation, a mandrel assembly including a pair of coilreceiving elements provided with channels parallel to the plane in whichthe coil is wound and co-operating, when in position to receive a coil,to provide a coil form about which a single coil is wound, and means forsequentially moving said coil receiving elements into the plane in whichthe coils are wound then out of said plane in a direction normal theretoand through 360 of rotation to discharge the coil wound thereon and toreturn the coil receiving elements to the plane in which the coils arewound.

3. In a coil winding machine of the type having a mandrel assembly forreceiving a coil, a supply assembly for delivering wire for winding intoa coil on the mandrel assembly and means for rotating one of saidassemblies relative to the other to wind a coil in a plane normal to theaxis of relative rotation, a mandrel assembly including a pair of coilreceiving elements provided with channels parallel to the plane in whichthe coil is wound and co-operating, when in position to receive a coil,to provide a coil receiving form about which a single coil is wound, andconveyor means for sequentially moving said coil receiving elements intothe plane in which the coils are wound, then out of said plane in adirection normal thereto and oppositely through 368 of rotation onetoward the other to discharge the coil wound thereon and to return thecoil receiving elements to the plane in which the coils are wound.

4. In a coil winding machine the form according to claim 7, including apair of guide brackets fixedly mounted one adjacent each side of saidstacked conveyors cooperating with said coil receiving elements toprovide a coil receiving form, the construction and arrangement beingsuch that said coils, upon movement of said conveyors, are removed fromsaid guide brackets.

5. In a coil winding machine, the form according to claim 7, including apair of flanged guide brackets, there being one mounted adjacent eachside of said stacked conveyors, a pair of flange members engaging saidguide brackets and co-operating with the flanges thereof to form coilreceiving channels at the sides of said stacked conveyors, said coilreceiving channels and said coil receiving elements co-operating toprovide a coil receiving form, and means for withdrawing said flangemembers from the coil receiving form to permit the formed coils to becarried by said conveyors out of the plane in which they are formed.

6. A coil Winding machine including a rotatable flier for winding a coiland means providing a receiving form for said coils, said meansincluding a pair of endless conveyors stacked in parallel relation oneabove the other, a plurality of coil receiving elements mounted on saidconveyors, said elements being arranged in spaced pairs, one element ofeach pair in each conveyor, and aligned in spaced planes parallel to theplane of rotation of said flier, a pair of spaced parallel guidebrackets mounted adjacent each side of said stacked conveyors andco-operating with an aligned pair of coil receiving elements carriedthereby to provide a coil form in the plane of rotation of said flier,means for synchronously driving said conveyors to advance said alignedpairs of coil receiving elements through the plane in which the coilsare formed, and means co-ordinated with said drive means for dis placingsaid spaced guide brackets one toward the other so as to release theformed coils from said guide brackets when the conveyors are in motion.

7. In a coil winding machine including a rotatable fiier for winding acoil, a coil receiving form including a pair of endless conveyorsstacked in parallel one opposite the other, a plurality of coilreceiving elements carried by said conveyors, said elements beingarranged in pairs, one element of each pair being carried by eachconveyor, and aligned in spaced planes parallel to the plane of rotationof said flier to provide a receiving form for a single coil, and meansfor driving said conveyors in synchronism so as to advance said pairs ofcoil receiving elements through the plane of rotation of said flier.

8. In a coil winding machine, the form according to claim 7, whereinsaid conveyors each comprise an endless chain mounted on spaced sprocketmembers, and the coil receiving elements carried thereby each comprisean L- shaped member seated upon and secured to said chain, and a planarmember pivotally secured to said L-shaped member and co-operatingtherewith to provide a U-shaped coil receiving element.

9. In a coil Winding machine including a rotatable flier forintermittently Winding successive coils, a coil receiver comprising apair of endless conveyors stacked one above the other extending parallelto and distributed about the axis of rotation of said flier, a pluralityof coil receiving elements carried by said conveyors, the coil receivingelements on one conveyor being paired with those on the other conveyorwith the pairs of coil receiving elements being aligned in spaced planesnormal to the axis of rotation of said flier and co-operating to receivecoils wound thereby, and means for driving said conveyors so as to movesaid pairs of coil receiving elements successively into position in theplane of rotation of said flier to receive the coils wound thereby, saiddriving means including a pair of drive sprockets and associated gears,one sprocket engaging each conveyor, a pair of Worms aligned coaxiallyand meshing with said gears for rotating said sprockets, a driven shaftinterconnecting said worms to simultaneously drive said conveyors, adrive shaft projecting across the path of rotation of said flyer toengage said driven shaft, and means for disconnecting said drive shaftfrom said driven shaft to provide clearance for said flier when windinga coil.

10. In a coil Winding machine including a rotatable flier for winding acoil, a mandrel assembly providing coil forms for receiving the coils asthey are wound, said mandrel assembly comprising a pair of like elongateendless conveyors, each conveyor comprising an endless chain mountedupon spaced sprockets so as to have parallel straight side portions androunded end portions, said conveyors being disposed in parallel relationon opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said flier so as to haveadjacent and co-extensive side portions, a plurality of coil receivingelements carried by said conveyors, the coil receiving elements of saidconveyors co-operating in pairs to provide a plurality of receivingforms for single coils wound about both said conveyors in a plane normalto the axis of rotation of said flier, means for intermittently drivingsaid conveyors oppositely in synchronism whereby said coil receivingelements are advanced in a stepwise manner parallel to the axis ofrotation of said flier to receive coils and thence toward the roundedend portions of said conveyors, said coil receiving forms collapsing torelease the coils carried thereby as the coil receiving elements thereofapproach one another in advancing over the rounded end portions of saidconveyors.

11. A coil winding machine comprising a mandrel assembly for receiving acoil, a supply assembly for delivering wire for winding into a coil onthe mandrel assembly, said mandrel assembly and said supply assemblybeing rotatable one relative to the other about a common axis, meansrestraining rotation of said mandrel assembly, means for rotating saidsupply assembly relative to said mandrel assembly to wind a coil on saidmandrel assembly in a plane normal to said common axis, said mandrelassembly including means providing a coil form for receiving the woundcoil and means for discharging the wound coil from the coil form, themeans restraining rotation of said mandrel assembly including anaccumulator arm attached to said mandrel assembly for receiving andaccumulating the coils discharged thereby, a pair of reciprocallymounted spindles for engaging said accumulator arm to restrain rotationthereof, said spindles engaging said accumulator arm in spaced relation,and means for oppositely actuating said spindles reciprocally such thatfirst one then the other engages said accumulator arm, the constructionand arrangement being such that coils are accumulated on saidaccumulator arm while one spindle engages said accumulator arm and areremovable from said accumulator arm while the other spindle engages saidaccumulator arm.

12. A coil winding machine comprising a mandrel assembly for receiving acoil, a supply assembly for delivering wire for winding into a coil onthe mandrel assembly, said mandrel assembly and said supply assemblybeing rotatable one relative to another about a common axis of rotation,said mandrel assembly including a rotatably mounted body member, a pairof housings slidably engaging said body member in spaced relation, meansadjustably securing said housings to said body member whereby theseparation between said housings is variable, a pair of conveyorsarranged in spaced parallel co-extensive relation extending parallel toand on opposite sides of said axis of rotation, there being one conveyorsupported by each said housing, each said housing supporting a pair ofside rails enclosing the sides of said conveyors, each said conveyorcomprising an elongate continuous chain and sprocket assembly and aplurality of U-shaped coil receiving elements supported by said chain,the coil receiving elements of one conveyor being aligned in pairs withthe coil receiving elements of the other conveyor in a plane normal tosaid axis of rotation and co-operating to provide a coil receiving form,means for rotating said mandrel and supply assemblies one relative tothe other to Wind a coil in a pair of said aligned coil receivingelements, and means for actuating said chain and sprocket assemblies ofsaid conveyors in synchronism to advance the coil receiving elements andthe coil supported thereby out of the plane in which the coil is Woundand to position a second pair of aligned coil receiving elements in saidplane, said pairs of coil receiving elements upon repeated advancementof said conveyors, discharging the coils carried thereby as they moveone to Ward another at the ends of said conveyors.

13. The coil Winding machine according to claim 12, wherein each saidcoil receiving element comprises an L-shaped member secured to saidchain and a planar member pivotally secured to the L-shaped member andco-operating therewith to provide a U-shaped member, said planar memberspivoting to assist the release of the coils from the coil receivingelements as these elements move one toward another at the ends of saidconveyors.

14. The coil Winding machine according to claim 12, includingaccumulator means engaging the side rails supported by one of saidhousings at one end of the associated conveyor for restraining rotationof said mandrel assembly and for receiving the coils discharged thereby,said supply assembly including a flier for Winding a coil upon saidmandrel assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS946,531 Beech Jan. 18, 1910 1,837,840 Slusher Dec. 22, 1931 2,046,883Robbins July 7, 1936 2,246,608 Taylor et al. June 24, 1941 2,268,866Furness Jan. 6, 1942 2,424,307 Dunbar July 22, 1947 2,445,109 FergusonJuly 13, 1948 2,453,366 Furness Nov. 9, 1948 2,527,662 Stevens Oct. 31,1950 2,624,374 Burge et al. Jan. 6, 1953 2,681,187 Zettelmeyer June 15,1954 2,700,514 Whittum Jan. 25, 1955 2,705,978 Caldwell Apr. 12, 19552,724,415 Orth Nov. 22, 1955 2,889,610 Buddecke June 9, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 244,887 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1925

